why did you start keeping chickens

[Krsyclmbr]

Backyard farming........who knew

 

[tstone825]

My husband God love him eats 3-4 eggs everyday with breakfast so instead of going to the store and buying eggs that have all that antibiotic, steriod, etc in them I decided to get some chickens!! I love knowing that they depend on me to keep them warm and fed. He has never had chickens before so he is definately in for a treat!! Should be getting 4 Easter Eggers this weekend

 

[Anna-MN]

I started raising chickens because because I was very intrigued by them! They are such funny little creatures. And of course the fresh eggs and all natural meat don't hurt either!

 

[clucky3255]

i started getting chickens just because i wanted them. Two years ago my family bought 12 chicks ... once they grew bigger and the waters froze my siblings sorta did not want to take care of them.. so i did because they are just like poeple(when it comes to personalitys) and i loved them. but my neighbor needed chickens because predators got his i gave him a total of 7 and he gave me enough money to buy 8 new chicks come spring.so last spring me and my Mom bought 8 chicks,and 6 ducks. i have 3 easter eggers--one died-- ,5 old hens , 1 Cherry and 1 Cuckoo Maran .. i also was supposed to get 2 polish.. but the AFS store was short two. :0 ugg! so i got two guinea hens.

 

[EggcitedCBuzz]

Honestly, I graduated college and wanted to explore my passions (because while in school i studied hard and never really had a chance to discover what i loved)...bought 4 chickens and have loved the experience

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I bought my first house 2 years ago and with it my very first yard. Next came dogs, garden and composting. While researching composting people kept talking about how amazing chickens are and my fiance said did you know its legal to own chickens in LA? Sold! One month later I had my first three chickens. I think of composting as my gateway drug.

 

[CKNNWBEE]

For eggs and for pets. So far they are very emotionally rewarding.

 

[20736]

In 1963, I went Easter shopping with some friends at Kresges Dept. Store. They had a display on the first floor with pink, blue, yellow and green chicks for 11 cents each. I bought 7, and 33 cents worth of feed, which was at least 5, maybe 8 pounds.
I didn't know what to do with them when I got home, so my Dad put them in a 20 gallon aquarium we had and that was our brooder. They lasted until June in the backyard and a neighbor ratted us out. We had a BBQ on the 4th of July to solve the problem.
Those were my first chickens.

 

[mychickenbrood]

So many reasons.

Grew up with them
Don't like factory farming
I like fresh eggs
Many very pretty breeds
So much fun to watch. I have a lawnchair in a permanent spot by the chicken yard, just so I can observe them. Better than T.V.
Eat up my leftovers from the house and garden
Have provided meat in the past
Intellectually stimulated (chickens? Isn't that an oxymoron?) No because I am always learning something. Besides, they are smarter than they look.
Fresh eggs are so much better tasting and fresher than store bought.
It gets me outside doing something.
And just maybe, I can get them to pay for themselves. If not, they are still a great hobby.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

In 1963, I went Easter shopping with some friends at Kresges Dept. Store. They had a display on the first floor with pink, blue, yellow and green chicks for 11 cents each. I bought 7, and 33 cents worth of feed, which was at least 5, maybe 8 pounds.
I didn't know what to do with them when I got home, so my Dad put them in a 20 gallon aquarium we had and that was our brooder. They lasted until June in the backyard and a neighbor ratted us out. We had a BBQ on the 4th of July to solve the problem.
Those were my first chickens.

I had some of those colored chicks, too! Guessing about 1962, the neighbor kid actually got them for Easter but she wasn't taking care of them. I visited and they didn't have water and were in a too-little box and were dirty.

SO . . . I took her chicks! She let me have them and I brought the three of them home zipped inside my jacket. I raised them until they got too big for our place as we didn't have a coop. Luckily, I had plenty of school friends who lived on farms and was able to give all three of them to the same farm. Yep, my first chicken experience, too, until now.